I know we've talked about settings of the Gloria in the past, but I have just been asked by an Anglican colleague if I could recommend a v simple sung Gloria for a small congregation with no choir - with the new words (i.e. to people of good will etc). They have a leader but I'm not sure if she sings or plays (or both). They already have one setting but would like something a bit more jolly. Any ideas?

Our parish likes Nick Baty's Eldonian Gloria, and we use St Paul the Apostle Mass, by Chris Walker, and for simplicity, Belmont. Mike Stanley's Mass of St Bernadette is another, but it starts on top D which is not always helpful.

The problem with Walker's Belmont Gloria is that its chant alternates two tones without regard for the structure of the text.

For a better setting in that respect, see the Psallite Mass "At the Table of the Lord" from Liturgical Press, certainly more jolly if you do it with brio! (Currently still available from Magnificat Music, though not for much longer, By the end of the year, Norwich Books and Music will be the go-to place for all our liturgical music needs: OCP. GIA, WLP, LitPress, Decani Music......)

We're looking for a new one for the autumn too. We have Schutte Mass of Christ the Saviour and the Lourdes but need another, something that fits better for Christmas, Easter and other big occasions.

Psallite is sometimes used for weekday solemnities but not Sundays. We've looked at the ones in the revised Laudate and Nick Baty's Warrington (as we use the Eucharistic acclamations from that setting) but haven't found quite what we're looking for yet. It's a puzzle.

Thanks everyone for these suggestions. the Belmont Gloria is the one that they already know (and would like something a little livelier). I don't know it, so can't comment. I've also suggested refrain settings, which might suit them. They've got an organist and a lead singer, so they could do one of those.

I don't like to blow my own trumpet - because it's not a very impressive one - but both my Glorias are on the lively side. The first, from the High Peak Mass, is a responsorial setting. The second, from the Mass of St Philip Howard, has two versions - a responsorial setting and a through-setting; when we first introduced it we used the response version, with a cantor signing the verses, and introduced the through-version after a few weeks. If you PM me your email address I can send you the music and very rough recordings to give you an idea.

At the Anglican Church in Gisburn they do a metrical setting of the Gloria with paraphrase words by myself (follows the main text quite closely). It is sung to Tallis' Canon; so it is very practical as nothing new in the way of music needs to be learnt and it can be sung unison, or with 4 part hamrony (or even in 2-4 part canon of course). If you want me to send you a copy of the text just contact me via the private messaging system here leaving me a postal address (not e.mail please)